Latest News
Maya Angelou honored with Forever Stamp
The U.S. Postal Service occasionally releases stamps honoring significant Americans, and its latest choice is poet, author, actress and human rights activist Maya Angelou. She's well known for two of her books, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and "Letter to My Daughter."
The USPS recently announced that it will release a new Forever Stamp featuring Angelou, who passed away last May at the age of 86. While the USPS used to require subjects be deceased for a minimum of five years before being featured on a stamp, this rule was overturned in 2011, making Angelou among the first to be honored less than a year after her death.
"Maya Angelou will be featured on a Forever Stamp less than a year after her death."
Lifelike image featured on the new Forever Stamp
The image featured on the stamp comes from an oil painting by artist Ross Rossin. His portrait of Angelou is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's collection and was completed in 2013. The stamp, designed by Ethel Kessler, depicts this portrait on the right-hand side and a quote of Angelou's on the left: "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song."
"I wanted to capture her laughter, her cry and the forgiveness and blessings that came from her face," Rossin said of his Angelou portrait. "It is not only her portrait that is bigger than life. It is she herself who is bigger than life. The portrait is evidence of her magic."
The red stamp sheet features another quote of Angelou's: " Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." This uplifting excerpt comes from her book Letter to My Daughter.
While the stamp is available for pre-order now, it won't be issued until April 7. This is also the date the USPS will hold its First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., an event that is free and open to the public. The ceremony will be held at the Warner Theater.
"The Maya Angelou Forever Stamp will be released on April 7."
According to a report from the office of the Inspector General of the USPS, commemorative stamps such as this should feature subjects that depict "historical events; themes of widespread national appeal and significance; and positive contributions to American life, history and culture." These intriguing stamps offer companies using postal software for mailing campaigns the opportunity to connect with recipients with more interesting, unique marketing materials.
